Dispensing tube cap



P 7, 1954 s. GRAHAM 2,688,425

DISPENSING TUBE CAP Filed Sept. 20. 1950 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 7, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a dispensing cap for collapsible tubes and it is an object of the invention to provide a cap of this kind whereby, upon compression of the tube, the contents of the tube is discharged in ribbon form.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a cap constructed in a manner whereby the discharge port thereof is normally closed and automatically opens upon internal pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cap which is adapted to discharge a fluent material such as shaving cream, tooth paste, ointment and the like and in a manner to facilitate the application of the discharged material upon a desired surface, the flow from the cap being normally closed to prevent entrance into the cap of foreign matter.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a cap having a lateral wall port which is closed by a split sleeve which normally has tight contact with the wall and which sleeve expands under pressure from within the cap to allow material to escape out through the port.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved Dispensing Cap for Collapsible Tubes whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing a cap constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in applied position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, v

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the tubular member herein comprised, and

Figure 5 is a view of the sleeve valve unapplied.

larged tubular head 4 which is herein disclosed as internally threaded, as at 5, for effective engagement with the nozzle 2.

The inner end of the head 4 is formed to provide an outwardly facing shoulder 6 extending entirely around the adjacent or inner end of the member 3. The outer end of the bore H of the member 3 is closed by a plug 1 which is provided with a head 8 extending outwardly around the outer end of the member 3 to provide a second inwardly facing shoulder 9.

The wall of the member 3 is provided therethrough with a longitudinally disposed narrow slot In which provides a discharge port in communication with the bore I I of the member 3.

Normally in close contact with the periphery of the member 3 between the shoulders 6 and 9 is a surrounding split sleeve valve I2. This valve I2 is of a length to have its ends abut the shoulders 6 and 9 and normally the longitudinal edges M of the valve I2 are in close contact.

The various parts of the cap as hereinbefore described are of a plastic material although the invention is not to be restricted to such material as obviously any material may be employed which will meet the requirements.

The inherent resiliency of the sleeve valve 12 will maintain the same in its normal close or tight engagement around the member 3 to maintain closed the discharge slot or port ll] of the member 3 thus preventing ingress through such slot or port Ill of foreign matter that might clog such slot or port II] or pollute the material within the bore 1 I.

In practice, squeezing of the tube T by the user will force the contents of the tube out through the nozzle 2 and the slot or port ll] of the applied cap 0. This discharge of the material will, under pressure, expand the sleeve valve l2 and separate the longitudinal edges [4 of said valve suiliciently to allow delivery of the material upon a brush or other surface desired.

It is not necessary in the assembly of the cap C to have the longitudinal edges M of the sleevevalve l2 in register with the slot or port ill to assure an even flow of the material.

The slot or port I0 being elongated causes the material to be ribbonlike as it passes out through the port or slot l0 and this form is maintained as the material continues to flow between the separated edges I4 of the sleeve valve l2.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, the inner marginal portions of the edges [4 of the sleeve valve are beveled, as at IE, to provide an entrance to facilitate the passage of the material under pressure between said edges I4.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a dispensing cap for collapsible tubes constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim: r

In a .cap for a dispensing tube, including the threaded neck portion of the tube, a tubular body having an enlarged, interiorly threaded, lower end portion engageable with the neck portion, said body having an axial bore of substantially the same diameter as that of the bore of the neck portion and a relatively narrow vertically elongated slot opening through its side above said enlarged portion, an annular shoulder formed exteriorly of said body immediately below the lower end of said .slot, aplug closing the upper end of said axial bore, a fiat head on the outer end of said plug and having a diameter slightly greater than that of the upper end portion of said body to provide a second annular shoulder, and a normally closed split sleeve closure for said slot turnable on said body between said shoulders and spreadable to uncover said slot when internal pressure is applied to the contents of the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 621,780 Atkinson Mar. 28, 1899 1,765,281 MacDonald June 17, 1930 1,909,627 Opper May 16, 1933 2,061,462 Groman Nov. 1'7, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 88,476 Switzerland July 1, 1921 

